Blast Performance of UHMWPE Cavity Protection Structure for Reinforced Concrete Walls

Escalating global explosive threats pose persistent challenges to building security. To address this issue, a novel Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) cavity protection structure is proposed to enhance the blast resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) walls. In this study, numerical simulation was conducted to investigate the blast resistance and protective mechanisms of the UHMWPE cavity protection structure. The results reveal that the protection mechanism involves two synergistic processes: dissipating energy through plastic deformation of the high-toughness panel and attenuating the shock wave via cavity wave modulation. This configuration achieves a peak overpressure attenuation exceeding 88% within the cavity zone, thereby effectively mitigating blast effects. Compared to an unprotected wall, the UHMWPE cavity protection system achieves a peak overpressure attenuation rate exceeding 86.3% on the blast-facing surface and decreases the peak displacement at the wall center by 60%, effectively suppressing localized damage. Parametric research further indicates that adding stiffeners to the cavities and making the panels thicker can greatly increase the ability to dissipate energy and overall stability of the UHMWPE cavity protection panel. The findings of this study offer valuable guidance for the design of high-performance blast-resistant structures.